HOMES

HOW TO DECORATE

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A Vancouver-based design and renovation firm turns the tide on a fussily furnished seaside house, re-envisioning it as an inviting, livable retreat with crisp colours and ship-shape style.

TEXT CHRISTY WRIGHT | PHOTOGRAPHY TRACEY AYTON

NATURAL NEUTRALS + NAUTICAL NOTIONS = SEASIDE SOPHISTICATION

The family room’s sectional was custom made with a low profile so that it wouldn’t impede the stunning view. Its warm grey tone grounds the space.

DESIGN, Fox Design Studio, fox designstudio.ca; custom SECTIONAL, PlaidFox; custom TOSS CUSHIONS, Fabricana Home.

OPPOSITE, TOP “The family room is all about the stone fireplace and the driftwood coffee table,” says Dave Leavitt, general manager of Fox Design Studio. “They share an organic sensibility that brings the beauty of the landscape in and represents the tranquility of the beach and all of its colours.”

ARMCHAIRS, COFFEE TABLE, PlaidFox; custom DRAPERY & TOSS CUSHIONS, Fabricana Home; RUGS, Costco; resin ANTLERS, Restoration Hardware.

From the outside, this West Vancouver beach house has it all. Poised among the breathtaking North Shore Mountains on almost an acre of waterfront property, with nary a neighbour in sight, its position 100 feet above sea level provides it with optimal views of the ocean – a real-life Arcadia just 20 minutes from downtown. Its pre-makeover interior, however, presented a different tableau. “It hadn’t been touched in 15 years,” says Dave Leavitt, general manager of Vancouver’s Fox Design Studio. “It was pink with overstuffed furniture and Persian rugs everywhere. It didn’t feel like a beach house or reflect its amazing setting.”

Dave and his team of designers – brother Ben Leavitt and friend Andrew Harvey – were tasked with transforming the 7,000-square-foot space into a comfortable weekend retreat. The busy homeowners, a couple from Langley, B.C., had purchased the fully furnished residence 10 years ago as a place where they could welcome their two children and, in recent years, three grandchildren. “They liked the convenience of a getaway with readyto-go furnishings but, in reality, it wasn’t working,” says Dave. “We had previously overhauled the husband’s animal hospital, and he liked our work, so he called us to update the house.”

Since its architectural bones (hardwood floors, generously proportioned light-filled rooms and custom mouldings and builtins) required no reshaping, the four-month revamp was strictly cosmetic, although it was anything but small. “Huge changes were required to make it look like a beach house,” says Ben. “We had to refinish all

ABOVE The traditional white kitchen, with its recessed panel cabinetry and detailed mouldings and corbels, is freshened up with black bistro-style stools and pendant lights.

STOOLS, PENDANT LIGHTS, Restoration Hardware; RUNNER, PlaidFox; TEA TOWEL, BASKET, HomeSense; DISHWARE, NAPKINS, FLATWARE, Anthropologie.

OPPOSITE, BOTTOM LEFT A whimsical chandelier crafted from old pop bottles was the starting point for the kitchen’s eat-in area. “A breakfast nook should never be too fancy,” says designer Ben Leavitt. “This fixture is very casual but has all the sparkle of a chandelier.” Navy and white upholstered chairs offer a crisp nautical-inspired look that suits the home’s seaside setting.

DINING TABLE, Restoration Hardware; custom DRAPERY & TOSS CUSHIONS, Fabricana Home; CHANDELIER, PlaidFox.

RIGHT & OPPOSITE, BOTTOM “A master bedroom should look relaxing,” says Dave, “so we typically don’t use bold colours, but rather textures and patterns.” The custom nightstands feature reclaimed railway posts that provide a rustic counterpoint to the show-stopping ceiling. “We highlighted the domed ceiling above the bed by silver leafing it. It took more than 20 hours to do but was worth it, since the shimmery finish creates depth and drama.”

CEILING SILVER LEAFING, Candise Wilde; BED FRAME, ARMCHAIR, NIGHTSTANDS, gold trunk SIDE TABLE, MIRRORS, PlaidFox; BEDDING, West Elm; custom DRAPERY & TOSS CUSHIONS, Fabricana Home; RUG, Costco; SCONCES, Restoration Hardware.

LEFT A feature wall hand-painted by designer Andrew Harvey defines the master bedroom’s sitting area. The whimsical sheep sculpture, originally peachcoloured, was painted white and chosen with the owners in mind. “They love animals,” says Dave, “so we thought this would be a nice touch. It’s also great here because the back of the sofa is seen from the bedroom, and this transforms it.”

SOFA, RUGS, ARTWORK, sheep SCULP- TURE, PLANT POT, VASES, PlaidFox.

OPPOSITE, TOP RIGHT The spectacular ocean view can be enjoyed from the clawfoot tub or the window bench in the master ensuite.

Custom BENCH CUSHION, Fabricana Home; VASE, PlaidFox.

the flooring and paint or wallpaper every nook and cranny.” And they were ruthless, replacing the old furniture with custom pieces and keeping next to nothing apart from the front door, which they painted as well.

Paint, not surprisingly, played a pivotal role in establishing the seaside vibe the designers were after. “To reference the surrounding water and rocks, we chose navy and grey,” says Dave. “We painted every room, except the navy blue office, in Thunder by Benjamin Moore. We diluted it with white paint to create a paler shade – it’s one of our secret weapons, a perfect grey that’s not too blue or green, just rich and warm.” Grasscloth accent walls in the living room and master bedroom amp up that warmth while blending in with ease. “Grasscloth is a great way to add natural texture,” says Ben.

The designers drew the line when it came to the original salmon pink marble fireplace surrounds in the living and family rooms. “No question,” says Dave. “Those just had to go.” Replaced with locally quarried stone, the surrounds look like they’ve always been there. “The fireplaces and the new decor are equal parts bold and relaxing.” Much like the setting itself, which this home now perfectly reflects inside and out.